Folding bed



(No Model.)

R. H. GARLAND.

FOLDING BED.

Patented Deo. 2,1884,

[nvenwr: m ym M. S

Wwnesses:

34M. /ZL www@ i IINTTED STATEs PATENT CEETCE.

RICHARD H.' GARLAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.`

FOLDING BED.

.LSPHCIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,764, dated December 2,1884.

Application i'led August 3, 1883. (No model.)

My invention relates to that class of folding 4beds known as cabinet-beds, and the ob io jects of my improvements are to improve the construction, to render it durable, and to provide for safety, maintaining the bed in folded relation to the case by utilizing the gravity of the folded bed-frame within 4the case, and thus avoid special fasteningappliances to hold the bed-frame in folded position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in vertical section my iniproved cabinetbed in folded position, its unfolded position being shown by dotted lines; Fig. 2, a horizontal section of the sain-e as unfolded for use, the bed-bottom being shown in top view, Fig. 3, an enlarged view of one of the grooved plates for the bedstead-pivots; Fig. 4, an end view of the saine; Fig. 5, aseotional view of one of the bedstead-pivot connections on the vertical line through the pivot, as at x a@ in Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a vertical section of the base portion of the wardrobe-case, showing one of the pivot-bearings and the fixed cross-rail of the case to which the bedspringsA are adjustably connected. Fig. 7 are enlarged sectional views of the adjusting-connections of the bed-springs with the iixed-case cross-rail; and Fig. 8 shows the concave re cess in the fixed cross -rail for the convex washer of one of the adj listing-screws for bedsprings.

The wardrobe-case A is open at its front side, and stands vertical upon a base, a, -liavrails, B B,are connected by a head crossrail, e, and a foot-rail, f, a cross-rod, r 1", being mounted in each, by which the bed`botto1n springs are supportued. The head ends of these side rails, B B, are provided on their outer sides with plates C, bolted each in a recess in said rails, and having an L-shaped groove, S, open at the outer endof said plate, as shown in Fig. 3, and adapted to receive the bedframe-supporting pivots. rIhese pivots and their receiving-grooves are of peculiar construction. The pivots b b are of the forni of truncated cones, the base of the cone being its outer end, or that part which fits within the groove of the plate C, and they project from flanges O, by which they are bolted to the case a, each flange having a convex outer face, and a center pin, 1J, entering the case to brace the flange and pivot. Each groove S has a short right-angled part terminating in a semicircular cavity or recess, s', the walls of which are beveled or inclined to correspond with the conical form of the pivot. The long side s of the groove S is also beveled or inclined to correspond with the conical form of the pivots, the object of which construction is to hold the pivots in place in the grooves of the bedfraine, so that the latter can be raised and lowered upon the wall-pivots without danger of the latter slipping outof the grooves. This construction also prevents t-he case from spreading at the sides, Abecause the conical pivots b b cannot be withdrawn endwise from their confining-grooves. The grooves being open at the ends of the plates gives the advantage ot' readily setting the bed-frame in place upon them. The grooved plates are placed at that corner of the head of the bedframe which is next the cross-rail d, and the pivots b b will stand in the grooves nearer the front side of the bed-frame when the latter is closed, so that its gravity will constantly tend to y press it forward into the case 'and to hold it safely against falling down. This arrange ment ot' the pivots places them to one side of the width of the side rails of the bedframe, and consequently gives the preponderance of gravity in its upright position toward the case, so that it requires some effort to pull the bed-frame down out of the case when once closed therein. When so closed, it will be IOO supported against the iiXed base cross-rail d, and may rest at its top against the inner side of the case.

The bedbottom consists of longitudinal coiled springs mf, joined together by diagonal ruiming springs n, the former being connected at each end to the cross-bars of the head and foot rails in a manner to adjust and equalize the strain of the bottom, which I will now decribe. The cross-rod11 of the head-rail isprovided with a number of loose pulleys, g, over which pass short cables or cords z', each being connected at one end to the ends of the coiled springs m, and at the other Vend to an adjusting screw-bolt, 7c, arranged in the Xed baserail d. The other ends of the coiled springs are attached to hooks Z on the foot-rail rod 1". The bolts if; pass through a slot or opening, g, in the fixed base cross-rail d, and through a Washer, D,whieh has a convex bearing side iitted into a corresponding concave recess, '0, in the rail. A nut, u, fastens the screw-bolt k to the Washer D, and serves to adjust the bolt to give the required tension to its connected spring m. As the strain of the bed-springs is directly upon these adj usting screw-bolts, and as the changing positions of the bed-frame when turned down will bring the strain sidcwise upon these bolts and be liable to bend them, I have provided the convex Washers as a means for permitting these bolts to turn to one side, so as to constantly maintain adirect line with the cables t', the slot g allowing such side movement of the bolt. It will be understood that each longitudinal coil-spring has such an adjusting attachment, and that the tension of the springs is made by the cord-connections over the loose pulleys.

In turning down the bed-frame to a hori- Zontal position, its inner end ,turning upon the pivots Z) b will cause the loose pulleys to describe an arc from a position below the pivots to aposition above them ot'tvhich thepivot-aXis is the center, and thus increase the tension of the springs. In this movement the pulleys turn loosely upon their supporting cross-rods r, and the spring connecting-cords operate upon the pulleys so as to draw the cords in oblique positions. (Shown by dotted lines in Fig. l.) It is this action of the cords over the pulleys which causes the cords to change their position with respect to their connecting-bolts, and thus increase the tension of the springs, and at the same time keep the pivots secure in the holding ends of the confining-plates. In turning the bed-frame into the case the springs contract, diminishing their tension, and as the greater portion of the bed-frame stands in front of its pivots its gravity tends to keep it secure within the case. The free end of the bed-frame is supported by pivoted legs when Yturned down for use.

l. The combination ofthe case, the bedfraine, and their pivot-connections With the spring-bottoni, the adj usting-screws 7c, the selfadjusting Washers D, the roller g, carried by said bed-frame, and iieXible' connections for the bed-springs and the adjusting-screws k, substantially as described, for the Y purpose specified.

2. The combination, in a wardrobe bedstead, ofthe case A, having the xed pivotsY of conical forni, with a bed-frame having side grooved plates to receive and conne said conical pivots, a bottom of coil-springs, loose pulleys g, the adjusting screw-bolts 7c, and the selfadjusting bearing- Washers D, the said spring-bottom being connected with said adjusting screw-bolts by the cords 1'., passing over the said loose pulleys, lsubstantially as described, for the purpose specified.

3. r[he combination of the case A, having the conical pivots b b and the base cross-rail d, with the bed-frame having the side plates, C C, formed with surface grooves of L shape, and beveled Walls to receive and confine said pivots, the coil-springs m n, the loose pulleys g, the cords t', adjusting screw-bolts, and selfadjusting Washers, all constructed and arranged for use as shown and described.

RICHARD H. GARLAND.

Vitnesses:

ALFRED A. LEHMANN, Trino. Donner-r. 

